Defending champ Rob Beyma scores again
as he denies Bill Morse in the Final.

still fighting the Bulge ...

Defending What's His ...

At least the "weather" issues in Lampeter had one silver
lining ... Grumpy Greenwood was too busy dealing with real problems
to find time for his annual torment of the grognards. A pair
of past champions, Roy Beyma and Bill Morse, and two perennial
contenders, Frank Sinigaglio and Forest Pafenberg, persevered
through the tropical rain forest to make the elimination rounds.

Paffy's Germans got off to an average start with four kills on
the 16AM turn, but the killing slowed and there were only 13
eliminated units after Beyma's 18AM turn. Still, Rob's Americans
were stretched thin in some places and he had to make a daring
counterattack at 5-1 in order to hold the line -- daring, because
an exchange would have killed the only unit able to plug the
line and Paffy would have waltzed through to victory. Rob didn't
roll the exchange and the breakout opportunity slipped away as
US reinforcements reached the front. Paffy had one more chance
with a 2-1(-1) on Bastogne on the 19AM turn, but he rolled high
and the defending champ returned to the Final.

In the other semi, a lousy opening by Frank resulted in the US
losing only two units, but the Germans pressed on until favorable
results erupted on the 19AM turn. Frank captured Stavelot and
the fuel dump therein and also overran an artillery unit near
Houffalize permitting a four hex advance, which put pressure
on Parker's Crossroad. At the end of the German 19AM turn the
allies had lost 17 units and could not afford the loss of any
more, so Bill dropped back into forts and choke points with stacks
of defenders hoping to avoid an exchange. On the 19PM turn, the
Germans were able to launch a 3-1(-1) attack on Bastogne and
a 2-1(-1) attack on Trois Ponts. With these odds, Frank had an
83% chance of taking one of the towns and winning the game, but,
he rolled a Contact and an Engaged and Bill was able to weather
the storm.

The Final was a rematch of the 2011 title game, but with the
sides switched. On the 16AM turn, Rob eliminated 99/393, 99/394,
14Cav and 28/112 thus making it difficult for Bill in the center.
The Americans received a brief respite on the 16PM turn when
Rob rolled high on a 3-1(-1) at St.Vith. However, Rob rolled
great on the next two turns and the Americans were down 15 units
at the end of the 17PM turn. Bill was now suffering "Unit
Hunger!" and had to resort to risky low odds attacks in
order to keep the Germans away from nearby victory point hexes
while also blocking routes west. Rob continued to press and three
turns later Bill had lost 29 units and could no longer form a
line. Rob, (aka Colonel Hessler), was one of the original Bulge
81 playtesters and he continues to demonstrate his prowess in
the Ardennes with his third title.